By Ikechukwu Nnochiri
ABUJA —The Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Aloysiius Kastina-Alu, will on September 19, administer oath of office to 30 legal practitioners who were on July 17, conferred with the rank of Senior Advocates of Nigeria, SAN.

Their confirmation was sequel to an out of court settlement between the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, and the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee, LPPC.

Though the last set of SANs were sworn into office two years ago, the NBA, which is the primary umbrella body of all practising legal practitioners in the country, hitherto dragged both the CJN and the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, to court over attempts by the LPPC to sideline due process in the appointment of new SANs.

The legal body seriously kicked against a 62-man list of legal practitioners who were ab-initio pencilled down for the rank.
NBA specifically prayed a Federal High Court in Abuja to void the list on the premise that it was constituted in total disregard to the provisions of section 7 of the Legal Practitioners Act.

It equally urged the court to determine among other things, “whether the defendants, particularly the LPPC, complied with the mandatory provision of paragraph 12-(1) of the Guidelines for the appointment of Legal Practitioners to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria made pursuant to section 7 of the Legal Practitioners Act, in the appointment exercise to the rank of SAN for the year 2010-2011”.

Nevertheless, at the resumed hearing of the suit on May 16, counsel to the NBA, Mr Emeka Obegolu, informed the presiding judge in the matter, Justice Gabriel Kolawole that all the parties decided to settle the matter out of court.

Following terms of settlement the parties subsequently filed at the High Court registry on May 31, the trial judge discontinued further hearing on the suit, though he adopted the said terms of settlement as the judgment of the court on the matter.

Consequently, the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court who also serves as the Secretary of the LPPC, Mr Sunday Olorundahunsi, who unveiled the consensus 30-man list, stated that the new SANs would fill the slots for year 2010 and 2011, noting that, “it is a tradition to begin the legal year of the Supreme Court of Nigeria with the Swearing-in of new Senior Advocates of Nigeria and we are continuing with that tradition”.

According to him, those selected for year 2010 are, Pat Onegbedan, Isaac Nwazue Ijioma, Agatha Obiozo Mbamali, Chief Dan Ose Okoh, Kenneth Ekene Mozia, Yahaya Mahmood, Chief Ferdinad Oshioke Orbih, Olanrewaju Ayodele Ogunlesi, Anthonia Titilola Akinlawon, Oluwemimo Adepoju Revell Ogunde, Professor Imran Oluwole Smith (Academics), Ikechukwu Ezechukwu, Okechukwu Amechi, Nnadi Jude Ositadinma and Abiodun Jelili Owonikoko.

While those appointed for the 2011 legal year are; Faye Dikio, Garba Shamtu Pwul, Granville Isetima Abibo, Samuel Tomi Ologunorisa, Hassa Muhammad Liman, Babatunde Adekunle Aiku, Dr Peter Terkaa Akper (Academics), Adesegun Muhammed Ajibola, Yakubu Chonoko Maikyau, Okon Nkanu Efut, David Oghenovo Ezaga, James Uko Kalu Igwe (Academics), Norrison Ibinabo Quakers, Jibrin Samuel Okutepa and Solomon Eyibio Umoh.